The Cure: A Genetic Engineering Thriller

Chapter 6

“I told Reggie that I didn’t need help down at the farmer’s market, but you know him, he’s still having a hard time adjusting to this new life and all,” Irene rambled on.

Another week had gone by at the ranch and Irene had shown promising results when it came to her body accepting the serum. While it wasn’t necessarily as dramatic as it had been for James, the good news was that the tumor had shrunk to a non-fatal size, and Dr. Ardolf was convinced in a few months, it wouldn’t be there at all. James didn’t have the heart to tell him that wasn’t how the serum worked; that after a certain amount of time, the body would continue to deteriorate, as it always did. What Ronald had created was not something of an immortal nature, but rather, a cure to fatal diseases and illnesses. He didn’t suffer from a god complex, but just a desire to help as many sick people around the world that he could. Now, that legacy lived on in James, just like it did Irene, too.

“He just wants to protect you,” James smiled.

He graciously held onto most of the groceries she’d purchased, which wasn’t a whole lot as they grew most of their fruits and vegetables at the ranch and had struck a deal with the neighbor about getting meat for 52 cheap. Whatever they couldn’t grow themselves or source out came from the farmer’s market. Irene had mentioned something about supporting the local companies from around Custer, and James went along with it. He never was one to shop like that back home, but it did put things into perspective. And one this was for certain; the food tasted a whole lot better when it came straight from the garden.

“Irene?” a shrill voice echoed to their left. “Is that you?”

“Margaret!” Irene squealed back. “It’s been months since we’ve seen you or Bill! When did you get back into town?”

Margaret was a short, plump woman who had rosy cheeks and a button nose. Her glasses hung from a chain around her neck, and she squinted to get a better look at her friend. James noticed her gawking at him, as if trying to figure out whether she recognized him or not.

“A few days ago,” Margret replied. “I must say, I’m a little surprised to see you out and about. Bill told me about the diagnosis, we were practically in tears when we thought we’d be losing you. But here you are, looking like a spring chicken!”

“The world works in mysterious ways.” Irene winked at James, a subtle nudge to their little secret. “The doctor says I’m going to make a full recovery, he’s never seen anything like it.”

“He must’ve stuck one of those special needles in you when you weren’t looking,” Margaret chuckled, holding her stomach as she did so. When neither James nor Irene joined in on the laughter, she furrowed her brow, as if confused by their silence.

“What special needle?” James asked.

Margaret squinted again, as if she didn’t appreciate being talked to by a total stranger. Irene must’ve picked up on the tension swirling between them, since she placed an arm around her surrogate son, tilting her chin in disapproval. “How uncivilized of me,” she began, “Margaret, this is James Scott, he’s a friend of Reggie’s and mine, and he’s staying up at the ranch with us for a little while.”

“Friend? I’ve never heard you mention any James before. Does he know the boys?”

“No, no, we met some time ago at Mount Rushmore. He saved us when we were having car troubles and he needed a place to stay, and we’ve got plenty of room.”

“You’ve opened your home to a couch-surfer?” she made a tsk tsk noise with her tongue, shaking her head in disapproval. “I know you and Reggie are nice folks and all, but this is a dangerous world we live in, Irene, you just can’t go around—”

“I’ll have you know James has been more than kind and courteous to us, and he’s been a real great help to have around the ranch. Reggie’s getting older now and has 54 benefitted from having a young man around to help with some repairs,” Irene trembled with anger and frustration. She took a generous step forward to invade her so-called friend’s space, her index finger shaking with the rest of her body. “And I’ll have you know this man saved my life in more ways than one, so I don’t appreciate the insinuation.”

“Irene, honey, I meant no harm in my words,” Margaret backtracked. “I just want you two to be careful, is all. I’m sorry, James, if I’ve offended you.”

“It’s no problem, ma’am,” he replied. “Now what was that comment you made earlier? About a special needle?”

“Oh, right,” the old woman blinked. “I saw it on the news the night we got back. It’s a whole thing that’s going around right now, I’m surprised y’all haven’t heard about it on the radio.”

“We don’t have cable out on the ranch,” Irene explained. “And we’ve been really busy getting ready for harvest season and whatnot, so we’ve really just been outside and sleeping, haven’t we James?”

“That’s right. The needle, what’s that all about?” he pried. Irene raised an eyebrow, sensing that something was the matter.

“Some healing voodoo or something, I’m not entirely sure. A doctor said that he has nearly come up with an injection that can cure all illnesses just like that,” she snapped her fingers in their faces, causing them both to 55 flinch. “It’s probably fake, but a lot of people on the internet are talking about it. Apparently, some human trials have already begun and there are some promising results. Nothing’s been shared to the media, but it’s expected to come at any point.”

James tried to force a laugh, but he was screaming on the inside. This was his worst nightmare. The thing he wanted to avoid most of all—having The Potion go public when he wasn’t prepared. No doubt Dr. Ardolf was behind this sudden reveal of a super serum; he was the only other person who knew about it. Unless Melanie finally decided to come clean, but James had his doubts about that. She knew how important this was to Ronald, and the likelihood of her dishonoring a dead man’s legacy would be a low blow.

“Sounds a bit too good to be true if I’m being honest,” Irene said swiftly. “Anyway, we’ve got lots to do so we should be heading out. It was wonderful to see you, Margaret. You and Bill should stop by the ranch some time for tea and brandy. I’m sure Reggie would enjoy the company.”

“Yes, we’ll chat soon. It was a pleasure to meet you, James. Take good care of Irene for me, and if you’re not around when we visit, good luck on your…travels,” she grimaced before trotting off down a different aisle.

“We have to tell Reggie about this,” James rushed. “Now.”

“That lying, little weasel!” Reggie cursed. “I can’t believe we trusted a single word that came out of his lying, stinking mouth!”

“Calm down, darling, or you’ll give yourself a heart attack,” Irene pleaded. “We don’t know it was Don. This may all just be a coincidence.”

“A coincidence? Have you told anyone about this magical potion that cured you of your brain tumor?”

Reggie placed both hands on his hips, his nostrils flared. James had never seen the old man so angry before, and it was definitely a frightening sight. He vowed to never get on Reggie’s bad side.

“No,” Irene huffed, “And I’m sure you haven’t either. James, dear, you said your lady friend back home knew? Melanie, was it?”

“Yeah, but I don’t think she would’ve gone public with it, not now. She’s known for months, and if she had plans, she would’ve done it before I left town. We’re on good terms, I don’t see her doing something like this.”

“See!” Reggie fumed. “It has to have been Dr. Ardolf. I swear I’m going to march right down to his office and give him a piece of my mind.”

“You know we can’t do that.” Irene plopped down on the sofa right in front of the fan. “This is a delicate situation, James’s life could be in danger if we do that, not to mention mine.”

“Yours?”

“I have this magical healing serum in my blood now, too,” she reminded him. “If this so-called Big Pharma company is after James, what makes you think they won’t try to take out an old woman like me? I’m an easier target in their eyes.”

“Lord help me.”

Reggie paced up and down the living room, muttering under his breath. James watched him silently, trying to come up with a new plan. He never liked to be on the defensive side of things, and now, he was going to have to pick up the pieces and try to rectify things before they blew out of control.

“Any ideas, James?” Reggie asked.

“Not anything concrete, just an inkling. It’s more wishful thinking the more I mull it over though.”

“What do you mean?” Irene commented.

“I knew this was going to happen sooner or later, although I think it’s safe to say I was betting on the latter. Let's say that Dr. Ardolf has gone to the press to share the stolen findings about The Potion. He doesn’t actually have the formula, so there’s no chance he can start distributing it. Even if he did steal some of my blood, the chances of him dissecting it and recreating it that way will take years and years. Right now, he’s bluffing, or he’s told someone and they’re bluffing. Either way, Big Pharma has already caught wind of this 58 research, so we have to move quickly. Sorry, I have to move quickly.”

“You’re leaving?” Irene’s eyes instantly welled up with tears.

James had not planned to leave the ranch yet, and he had grown to genuinely care for Reggie and Irene in a way he never thought was possible.

“Soon, but not yet. I still have to get some things in order. Bottom line, we have to be careful about what we say and who we say it to. The good news is, you don’t really have any technology that is able to be tracked, so the likelihood of their associates hunting us down all the way out here are slim. If our identities are released, I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to protect you.”

“Just tell us what to do and we’ll do it,” Reggie stated.

“For now, we do nothing but sit and wait this out. Who knows, it might just blow over once the hype dies down, and that’ll buy me some more time. We’ll just act as if nothing has happened, go about our business, and that’s it. In the meantime, I’m going to have to make some calls, just to tie up any loose ends.”

“Is that really such a good idea? For all we know Don has released our information to these goons and they’re tapping into our landline as we speak.”

“I have a burner phone,” James clarified. “It’s not traceable. Whatever I do, I assure you I’m going to do it 59 in your best interest. I could care less what happens to me at this point, it's you I’m worried about. I should never have brought you into this mess.”

“Don’t beat yourself up too much, son.” Reggie placed a hand on James’s shoulder and gave him an encouraging nod. “We knew the risks. I’d do it all over again if it meant Irene didn’t have to suffer with that tumor anymore.”

“I’ll meet with some of the neighbors. Maybe I can squeeze more information out of Margaret while I’m at it. If anyone around here knows what’s happening out in the world, it’s that woman.”